THE LUNA THEY SACRIFICED

CHAPTER THREE

......ACCUSED AND CONDEMNED ....

(Nyra pov)

My breath caught as the door slammed open.

"Take her," Riven ordered. "The entire pack deserves to know about this…

Fear gripped my throat….

"Riven, please…”

"Quiet"!!! One of the guards silenced me.

They grabbed me roughly, and pain shot through my arms.

"Let me go!" I struggled. "I have done nothing!"

But no one listened; nobody ever did.

The news had already spread throughout the pack, and before you knew it, the grand hall was full.

Whispers spread like wildfire as I was dragged inside.

"Is that Luna?"

"What has she done?" "I heard she cheated."

"That's impossible."

Of course, she did. "Look at her."

I could feel every stare, every judgment, and every ounce of hatred.

They chained my wrists and forced me to kneel.

And placed me before the throne like an outcast, as I've always been.

Riven sat there, like the king he is, like a stranger I couldn't recognize.

Pay attention, everyone!!! And there was quietness instantly.

"This woman," he began, his voice echoing throughout the hall, "has committed the greatest betrayal.”

My heart pounded furiously.

"She has dishonored this pack and me. “

"No!" ….I cried out. "I didn't."

"Silence!"

Murmurs resumed, but this time they were louder.

The elders' voices sounded like knives. Their expressions were unforgiving. One of the elders finally stood and said slowly but cruelly…

"You carry a child," but you have no wolf, no strength, or bond worthy of carrying a divine child from the moon goddess. You are a liar… You deserve to die… my stomach churned. “This is unnatural.” "This is disgusting and wicked." Tears blurred my vision.

"I didn't do anything wrong," I shouted once more. "Please believe me..." but no one listened.

Riven stood up from his chair and declared...

His final words fell like a death sentence.

"Nyra Vale!" he yelled. "You are a disgrace to this pack. "You are a traitor, and I regret choosing you as my Luna from the beginning…

However, as long as I still remain the alpha of Harzdawood and Lyra is the only one carrying my legitimate heir, I now declare her my rightful Luna.

Today!!!! I denounce you, my Luna……

My breath caught when I heard this, and the world suddenly fell silent. My life had come to an end.

I thought being called a traitor would be the worst moment of my life; obviously, I was wrong.

The worst moment… was what came after.

The chains cut into my wrists as they dragged me across the rough stone floor.

My knees landed hard on the ground as they forced me to kneel in the middle of the courtyard, where the entire pack had gathered.

Not to question anything, nor to defend me.

Rather, they watched with pleasure and judgment.

"Look at her." "Shameless Luna..."

"She dared to cheat on the Alpha." Laughter followed.

I lowered my head and trembled, not out of fear but out of emptiness.

The fact that I was once Riven's Luna, standing here next to him.

Now I'm kneeling here like a criminal, like nothing. What did I do to deserve this?? I sobbed….

While Lyra is comfortably seated in my place.

The chains clinked as I tried to move slightly, but a guard yanked them hard, forcing me to remain still.

"Don't move, you loser."

The word resounded in my head repeatedly.

"Bring her forward." Riven's voice broke out again.

The guards dragged me closer to the elevated platform where he sat with the elders.

Lyra sat beside him, elegantly dressed in a silk outfit. Smiling because she had already won.

I met her gaze.

She didn't even try to hide it; I could see the triumph and the satisfaction.

Her eyes seemed to say, "I told you, I will always win."

Another Elder said, "Nyra Vale," loud enough for everyone to hear. "You are charged with betraying your pack and your Alpha."

My throat tightened, leaving me unable to speak.

Or perhaps...another elder will cut in...

How did you become pregnant with an unexplainable child? "A child that does not belong to your Alpha."

"That is not true!" I wept, my voice breaking.

I attempted to defend myself. This child is a blessing, and...

"Enough!"

The command silenced me immediately.

My heart raced in my chest.

Why won't they just listen? Oh my goodness…

Then... the doors opened. I looked; they were my parents…

A glimmer of hope burst inside me so suddenly that it hurt.

"I knew they came for me..."

"Father…" I whispered, tears in my eyes.

He would defend me, wouldn't he??? I know he will, I told myself.

He was one of the pack's most capable warriors.

He knew me, he raised me, and he certainly would not let this happen, right?

But they didn’t even look at me, not once.

Instead, they walked straight to Riven… and bowed.

“I apologize, Alpha,” my father said, his voice steady. “We failed to raise her properly.”

Something inside me broke….

“Father…?”